More about: Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill has revealed that his alcohol abuse nearly cost him his voice, and that he had to resort to steroid injections just to be able to sing and keep up the pace on tour in 2011.

He recently told Q magazine; ''When you're going as fast as we were going, or working as hard as we were, you get into a rhythm.

"Then it becomes a case of, well, if I'm gonna go out there and kick ass tonight then I need to grab a couple of drinks first. And I'm going to need a steroid shot just to sing. After a while, that gets on top of you."

Watch: The video for single 'Supersoaker' from Kings of Leon's upcoming album

The situation had become serious by July 2011 after Followill walked off stage during a gig in Texas, complaining of 'voice problems', but which led to speculation he was, in fact, too drunk to perform.

The band later announced a hiatus that lasted until mid-2012, causing rumours the band were to split, which Caleb vehemently denied; saying "I know people thought we were going to break up but I was never going to quit, put it that way. And how do you break up with your brothers, anyway?"

The band are due to release their sixth studio album on 24 September, entitled Mechanical Bull.

Below: Kings of Leon live at their Shepherd's Bush gig last month

More about: Kings of Leon